Science Advisory Report  2011/013

Assessment of the Greenland Halibut Stock in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (4RST) in 2010

Summary

• Preliminary landings of Greenland halibut by the fixed gear fleet totalled 3,782 t as of December 2010 of an available allocation of 3,751 t. However, fleets can land another 262 t in individual quotas prior to May 15, 2011.
• The proportion of females caught in the fishery was 80 % in 2010 and has remained more or less the same since 2000.
• The proportion of individuals in the fishery smaller than the legal size of 44 cm dropped from 19% in 2008 to 12% in 2009 and 9% in 2010. At this size, 63% of females and 5% of males were immature. Mean size increased by 1.1 cm to 49.3 cm from 2009 to 2010.
• The size at which 50% of fish are mature has remained rather low since 2001 (males 36.3 cm and females 45.4 cm).
• The fleet’s fishing sites have changed since 2006, fishing activities have dropped in the estuary (area known for small turbot) and fisheries have developed around Anticosti (southwest and north).
• Commercial catch rates have been high and stable since 2007, but dropped slightly in 2010 compared to 2009. A small drop was observed in Esquiman, northern Anticosti and in the western Gulf.
• The significant decline observed in the biomass indices (kg/tow) from the two surveys from 2007 to 2009 has stopped in 2010, but the indices are still below the average of the last ten years.
• The 2004 strong year-class significantly contributed to the 2010 fishery, which could explain the increase in mean size. Its contribution should decrease in 2011 and 2012. The 2005, 2008 and 2009 cohorts were weak according to the two surveys and are likely to reduce the exploitable portion over the next few years.
• Even though the exploitable biomass is in the “healthy” zone based on the preliminary reference points, it may decline in the medium term due to the arrival of these three less abundant year-classes.
• Given that the main indicators of resource status and that the mean abundance of the upcoming year-classes (2006 and 2007) indicate that the fishery is stable, the status quo is recommended for the catch levels allowed in 2010 for 2011-2012 and 2012-2013.

This scientific advice results from the regional advisory meeting held on February 15, 2011 on the Assessment of the Greenland halibut Stock in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (4RST) from the Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat. Any other publication resulting from this process will be published when available on the calendar of scientific advice from the DFO Science Branch.

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